Teens designed free teen event at the Walker on Thursday

Teens can take part in quarterly social events at the Walker Art Center designed by and for teens. The next event is Thursday. (Courtesy photo)

The Walker Art Center is luring teens from the malls with a night just for them. "Teen Takeover: Double Take" coming up Thursday is organized by the dozen high school students on the Walker's Teen Arts Council and geared to the under-20 set, with everything from break dancing to opera sung by youth performers.

The Walker has had a teen art advisory council for 20 years, making it one of the first in the country, but only recently has the group hosted a social evening. The Minneapolis Institute of Arts has a quarterly social event designed by and for teens called "Rated T."

For Thursday's event, the Walker teens chose the theme of identity: how teens show it and how they hide it. There will be participatory performances with local arts groups including Huge Theater, Minnesota Opera, Penumbra Theater, Kulture Klub Collaborative and Looney Tunes Break Dancing Crew. There will be a "Popcorn Champion" cooking competition, still-life drawing sessions inspired by the Edward Hopper exhibit at the Walker, Radio K's teen DJs "Those Meddling Kids" and plenty of hang out time.